Generally, bugs or glitches are the most common reasons why your Shark Robot won’t connect to WiFi. You can quickly fix this by rebooting the unit and refreshing your network connection.
Shark Robot vacuums have become one of the popular choices in the United States due to their sleek and seamless design and performance. Recently, I came across a PROBLEM, my shark robot was not connecting to WIFI, which I bought just 3 months back.
I keep testing these vacuums to find the key factors that contribute to their longevity and efficiency, how easily a user can clean filters and empty vacuum bags or bins, and troubleshooting tips.
This article will guide you through the reasons why your robot is not connecting to WIFI and how to fix this problem quickly and easily at home.
Why Won’t My Shark Robot Connect to WiFi?
Generally, a shark robot won’t connect to WIFI due to software bugs or glitches, but there could be some other reasons too, such as connectivity problems with the router, non-availability of 2.4 GHZ band, location of the router causing dead zones and network firewall settings.
Connectivity Issues with Your Router
Even if you’ve entered the correct password and can’t connect to your WIFI, interference from other household devices might disrupt the signal. Additionally, it could also be a temporary network glitch.
Not Using 2.4GHZ WIFI
Most shark vacuums can still not connect to the 5GHz frequency and need a working 2.4GHz connection. So, if you don’t have a dual-band router, make sure your robot vacuum is connected to the 2.4GHz frequency. Here’s our complete step by step guide on connecting shark vacuum to wifi.
Router Is Located Too Far
Your router’s location has a significant effect on your robot vacuum’s connectivity. If there are some dead zones in your house where the network connection is either weak or no connection at all, your shark robot won’t connect to the network.
Router’s Firewall Settings
Usually, a router’s firewall settings can block certain ports and can stop your device from connecting to your home network.
Additionally, MAC filtering can also stop your device from using the WiFi network and connecting to it.
These are the four common reasons that I found during the comprehensive testing of Shark robot vacuums.
Now that you know why your Shark Robot vacuum isn’t connecting to WiFi, let’s move on to troubleshooting methods.
How To Fix My Shark Robot Not Connect To WiFi?
Before I get into the advanced troubleshooting methods, I suggest you perform the simplest and the most effective method: reboot your shark robot vacuum.
Turn off the power switch (placed on the side) on your Shark robot vacuum and wait for around 10 seconds.
Turn on your robot again and check if the problem is fixed.
You should also try to:
- Close and relaunch the app on your phone. Most of the time, this resets the bugs causing the issue.
- Try moving closer to your router to get a stronger signal.
- Restart your phone.
You must try these above methods before you get into the below troubleshooting methods. Also, resetting your shark robot can help fixing this problem.
Power Cycle Your Router
Does your Shark robot vacuum remain unresponsive even after a restart? It’s time to look at your networking hardware more closely.
You will also need to refresh the link between your vacuum and the router.
One of the most efficient methods to achieve this is by performing a power cycle. This will force both devices to re-establish their connection and acquire fresh network settings, ensuring seamless communication between your Shark robot vacuum and your router.
Follow these steps to power cycle your router:
- Switch off your modem and router.
- Disconnect both devices from the power source.
- Let them remain unplugged for a minimum of 5 minutes (more is better).
- Reconnect your modem to the power source and switch it on.
- Once your modem is connected, plug in and switch on your router.
Full Charge Your Shark Robot Vacuum
Usually, your shark vacuum connects to the wifi when it detects it. But, if the vacuum is not charged enough, it won’t connect to the network.
So, when you are troubleshooting your shark vacuum, make sure that it’s fully charged. If its not charging, check our article “How To Fix Shark Robot Vacuum Not Charging“.
Here’s how you can find out whether your shark robot is charged:
- Press the power button on your shark robot.
- Press the dock button. The robot will move to the dock station for charging.
- Make sure to turn off the night cleaning schedule, if any.
- Also, look for the charging LED light to confirm.
Expert Tip: If your Shark robot vacuum fails to return to its charging station, you can manually place it in the charging station.
Make Sure You Are Using 2.4 GHz WiFi
Generally, new routers broadcast a 5GHz Wi-Fi frequency band, whereas the shark robots still use 2.4GHz frequency. The dual-band routers that broadcast both 2.4GHz and 5GHz are also available in the market.
So, it is important to check what frequency band your router is broadcasting.
To check your Wi-Fi frequency:
- Open the web browser and log in to your router’s web interface.
- Go to the ‘Advanced Settings’ within your router’s interface.
- Choose ‘Wireless’ or ‘Network Settings’.
- Locate the option for the 2.4 GHz band or radio.
- Ensure it’s set to ‘Enable’ to activate it.
- For dual-band routers, make sure to enable “Dual-band.”
Whitelist Your Shark Robot’s MAC Address
MAC address whitelisting increases your network security, and you should use this as a part of a multi-layered security strategy.
But at the same time, it can restrict new devices from connecting to your Wi-Fi network. So, if you have just bought your device and it’s not connecting to wifi, use the below steps.
- Find the MAC address of your vacuum. This is usually printed on the back of the device.
- Log in to your router’s web interface.
- Go to the ‘Wireless’ or ‘Security.’
- Select the ‘MAC Filtering’ option.
- Add your vacuum’s MAC address.
Note: You can find MAC Filtering named MAC Address Control or MAC Authentication on some routers.
Disable Your VPN/Adguard
Are you using a VPN or Adguard?
If yes, there’s a possibility that your vacuum is being “blacklisted” by the VPN or adblocker.
In such a case, you should temporarily deactivate your VPN, Adguard, or any other security measures that could be creating connection disruptions.
You can reactivate these security features once your vacuum connects successfully to your wifi.
Change Your Firewall Settings
The Firewall settings can sometimes interfere with your WiFi connections and block specific links or devices.
If you’re experiencing connectivity problems with your Shark vacuum, you must inspect your Firewall settings and make some required changes.
Here’s how you can change your Firewall settings:
- Open your router’s web interface and sign in.
- Go to the “Advanced Settings” section, and then select “Firewall“.
- Choose the Port Forwarding option.
- Allow/ Whitelist or open ports 80, 443, 53, 55055, and 55056.
Get a WiFi Extender for Better Coverage
Your Shark robot vacuum is designed to move freely around your home, ensuring every corner is spotless. However, with limited networking hardware, you may encounter dead zones where WiFi connectivity is weak or non-existent.
This can be problematic as your vacuum can lose connection whenever it goes too far from your router. To ensure a seamless WIFI connection of your Shark robot vacuum, your entire home must have strong WiFi coverage.
Buying a WiFi extender or establishing a mesh network setup can significantly enhance your home’s WiFi coverage. A WiFi extender works by boosting your existing WiFi signal, effectively reducing or eliminating dead spots in your home.
On the other hand, a mesh network uses multiple nodes to create a single, robust WiFi network that covers your entire home.
Here’s how you can connect a WiFi extender to your Shark vacuum:
- Plug your WiFi extender into a power source.
- First, press the WPS button on your router and then on your Wi-Fi extender.
- Wait for a few minutes and let your Wi-Fi extender finish connecting to the router.
- Now, connect your Shark vacuum to the WiFi extender.
Contact Shark Customer Support If Nothing Works!
If you are still experiencing issues with Shark Vacuum’s connectivity, consider updating the robot’s firmware. In some cases, software bugs or glitches can be resolved with the latest updates.
However, if this also doesn’t solve the problem, you should get in touch with Shark customer support. They can provide further assistance, identify if your vacuum requires repair or replacement, and guide you through the process.
Shark customer support is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
For general inquiries and non-robot-related issues, you can call them at 1-855-520-7816. For robot-specific issues, you can dial 1-855-427-512.
You can submit a request online via their official support page or email them directly at info@sharkrobot.com.
How To Set Up Your Home Network For Your Shark Vacuum’s Smooth Operation?
In the previous sections, I provided an in-depth look at troubleshooting WiFi connectivity issues with your Shark vacuum. However, there’s more you can do to create an optimal WiFi environment that prevents such problems.
In this section, we’ll explore how to set up your home network for the seamless functioning of your Shark vacuum.
Selecting the Ideal WiFi Channel
WiFi routers can broadcast across several channels, and by picking the right one, you can reduce interference and enhance your Shark vacuum’s connection.
You can use a tool known as a WiFi analyzer to identify the least congested channel and configure your router accordingly.
Strategic Placement of Your Router
You should always place your router at a central location in your home and a few feet above the floor.
Since WiFi signals tend to propagate downwards, the higher you place the router, the better signal coverage your robot will get.
Avoid placing your router near microwaves or cordless phones, as they can cause interference with the WiFi signal.
Update Your Router’s Firmware Regularly
Firmware updates often bring enhancements and solutions to issues.
Keeping your router’s firmware up-to-date can help you maintain a secure and reliable WiFi network for your Shark vacuum to connect.
You can either visit the router’s manufacturer’s website or use the router’s interface for firmware upgrades.
Revamping Your WiFi Equipment
If you use an old router or if it’s outdated, it may not deliver a strong, stable signal for your Shark vacuum.
You can either upgrade your router to a recent model or use a WiFi extender to boost your router’s range.
Remember, the stability and strength of your WiFi network are the keys to all your smart devices’ smooth operation, including your Shark vacuum.
Understand the Wi-Fi Errors on Your Shark Robot
Your Shark Robot vacuum displays specific symbols to indicate different connectivity problems that may prevent the device from successfully connecting to WiFi. (Check our Shark Robot Vacuum Error codes guide for troubleshoot other errors.)
Here’s a table to understand the signals and identify the problem.
| Flashing Pattern | Meaning |
| Exclamation Mark (!) + WiFi symbol flashing | Incorrect WiFi network password. |
| Exclamation Mark (!) + WiFi Symbol flashing alternatively | Wrong username or password input for the Shark account. |
| Exclamation Mark (!) + WiFi Symbol flashing simultaneously | Robot Is Not Connected to the Network. |
| Constant Exclamation Mark (!) + WiFi Symbol | Wireless Network Is Not Found. |
Key Takeaways
- The are several reasons why a Shark robot vacuum doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi – software bugs, glitches, router connectivity problems, unavailability of the 2.4 GHz band, router location causing dead zones, and router firewall settings.
- Shark vacuums typically require a 2.4GHz connection and cannot connect to the 5GHz frequency.
- The location of the router can affect the Shark vacuum’s connectivity. Dead zones in the house where the network connection is weak or non-existent can prevent the vacuum from connecting to the network.
- The router’s firewall settings can block certain ports, preventing your vacuum from connecting to your home network. MAC filtering could also prevent your device from using the Wi-Fi network.
- Simple solutions include rebooting the vacuum, relaunching the app on your phone, moving closer to the router for a stronger signal, and restarting your phone. More advanced methods include power cycling your router and ensuring the vacuum is fully charged.